I'm 16! Boogies.
Ah hem…
Can't say too much in case ff decide to take my story off. Pout. Meh. So thanks go to…
Tiara Shin,
Rayame325 and,
Astalder27 for their reviews on Chapter 5. See you all soon!
Faerlain
Chapter 6: His father's son
"We could 'ave got her. Just a few more moments, and we would 'ave 'ad her."
The Captain brushed off this comment. "Shut it scumbag," he growled. "There were too many Elves around and you know it, though you still led 'em on in there. What were you thinking you stupid idiot?"
"I was jus' followin' your orders Sir. Like you said, go and get the girl. So we did." He paused. "Well, almost."
"How come her sister was there then? Another of my orders was to wait till there was no one else around and she was alone."
"She was alone when we started going in! And then her sister runs in with this other Elf, sees us lot clamberin' over the wall, and tells the younger one to start runnin'. We had no other choice but to follow and grab her."
"Yet you still failed." He spat at the scout leader. "You failed and that's that. Next time, we're gonna get her, and get her good."
"Why not go for one of the other kids?" another put in. "This one's gonna be protected on all sides, night and day now. We won't get within three feet of the girl."
The Captain nodded slowly; taking this new information in. He was an old Orc, battle-scarred and fearless. His mind worked in ways that his scouts could never work out. He would come up with plan after plan to get the Elves of Mirkwood dead and buried. Many of his plans failed dramatically of course, but no one else could come up with any decent ideas. He was all they had to go on. Not the brightest of his bunch in the way of general knowledge, but when it came to attacking and fighting, Meagereg was the Orc they turned to.
"One of the boys this time," he answered, thinking out loud. "That girl was too close to the one we got the other week. They knew something was up and so were ready. But the boys, they'll be unprotected."
"Not the one from the Tower," the new Orc checked. "He'll be ready and waiting."
"The youngest one," the Captain told him. "What's his name?"
"Hithaer," another Orc chucked into the conversation. "He's the one who's trying to be like his brothers."
"The one who got left behind," the scout leader chuckled. "He was the only boy not in on the fun last time."
"You're damned right he was. The eldest we had and the other two galloping up to save him. Yeah, he was the only one left out of it. Right, he's the one we're getting next. Get ready boys, this is gonna be fun!"
----
When Lothriel awoke the following morning, she found herself spooned against her brother on the bed. As she became wider awake and more alert of her surroundings, she found herself staring into a bright blue pair of eyes.
"Legolas!"
She sat up and looked down at him. Winking up at her, he pressed a finger to his lips, looking behind her. When she looked, she saw their mother still fast asleep in the chair.
Lothriel couldn't believe her eyes. A few days ago, Legolas had been on the verge of death. Now he was wide awake and grinning his silly grin at her.
"Miss me?" he whispered. "Or have I missed any more interesting conversations about me?"
Lothriel stifled a giggle behind her hand, and then started crying as all her emotions hit her. Lying back down she held him round the neck, sobbing quietly into his shoulder. Carefully, so as not to disturb his bandages he embraced her, kissing her hair and cheek fondly.
"Oh Gods Legolas, we were so worried," she murmured against his shoulder. "I thought you were going to die."
"And leave you to have all the fun? No way little sister. I'm not going anywhere just yet."
She leant back and wiped her eyes, smiling at him through her tears. "We should really wake her up," she said, tilting her head back to where Aurêl still dozed.
Legolas shook his head. "She's been in here day after day, night after night, hardly sleeping, not eating or drinking properly, watching over me. She deserves a good sleep."
"How did you know she'd done that?"
"I know my mother."
Lothriel laughed again and kissed his cheek. "I've missed you so much," she told him. "It's been pure hell without you." She felt him take hold of her arm, and knowing there was quite a large cut there from the night before, pulled it away before he could see.
Legolas raised an eyebrow. "I'm not stupid Loth," he told her. "Drugged up on goodness knows what maybe, but certainly not stupid. And I'm not seeing things when I see blood on your sleeve. Now let me look."
"'Tis nothing," she assured him. "No need to worry or fuss."
"When my little sister, whom I love and adore beyond words starts hiding things from me, it's then that I start to worry." He gave a rueful smile. "And I love making a fuss of you."
She sighed and put her arm back. She hadn't noticed how much blood had soaked into her sleeve and when she saw the large red stain, she bit her lip.
Legolas pulled the material back gently and gave her a stern look as he saw the cut. "You should have gotten this seen to," he told her. "Why didn't you?"
"I was too worried about you. And I was scared stiff."
"I'm not surprised. I bet those Orcs gave you a bit of a fright."
"Ah yes, how exactly did you know I was about to get attacked?"
"I dreamt about it. I saw you being taken away, and knew that you had to be saved."
She kissed the tip of his nose. "And I love you for it. But you'd been out cold for days and days, and then you woke up so suddenly. Gave naneth quite a fright I heard."
He chuckled softly. "I bet I did. But it's more fun that way." He increased his grip on her. "But at least you're safe now, and that's all I care about. Now go and get that cleaned up and bandaged."
"I'm not going anywhere."
"Yes you are."
"Ah, now you see I am at an advantage." She sat up, grinning triumphantly. "You are weak and bedridden, whereas I am perfectly fit and healthy."
"Not perfectly."
"Well I'm in a better condition than you. So you can't force me to go anywhere." She folded her arms. "I'm not moving until someone else arrives or naneth wakes up."
Legolas reached out and prodded his mother on the leg. "Naneth, wake up. Loth's driving me insane already."
Lothriel gave an indignant glare as her mother woke up slowly. "Now that was just unfair Legolas Greenleaf."
"Well it's true."
"When have I ever driven you to insanity?"
"Plenty of times you've driven me to near-insanity."
"I can't believe that."
"I can."
Aurêl watched their banter with barely-hidden amusement and relief. Her son was awake, already squabbling with his sister, and Lothriel herself seemed happy and carefree once again.
Thank Eru for that.
----
"I need alcohol."
"That is one thing you certainly do not need Legolas."
The Prince pouted. "But you all get it!"
Ladrenîl chuckled at his younger brother's scornful glare. "But we aren't seriously ill."
"I am not seriously ill."
"But you have been," Nauralad told him, sitting down on the edge of the bed and slipping her hand into his. "And as your main carer, what I say goes regarding you for the next couple of weeks. And I say no alcohol."
"I have my younger sister caring for me. Now that's a story to embarrass me by in the future. Remember it little brother," he told Hithaer with a grin.
Nauralad rolled her eyes. "You are impossible Greenleaf!" she scolded, slapping his arm. "I can't imagine where you get your stubbornness and sense of humour from." Here she looked to her father and Ladrenîl, who both returned innocent expressions.
Lothriel was snuggled comfortably under Legolas' right arm, holding the doll once again. "I'm not having any wine," she told him.
"Legolas' little girl," Hithaer teased.
"Legolas' little boy," she threw right back.
"Since when was I a father?" Legolas retorted, slightly confused by their statements.
"Just don't ask," Ladrenîl told him with a grin. "It's been going on for some time."
"I'm missing something here. Can somebody please explain?"
"Not now Greenleaf," Nauralad said. "Its time you got some rest."
"I've been asleep for two bloody weeks; I don't need any more rest!"
The whole family laughed at this little outburst. "Oh yes, definitely your father's son," Aurêl commented.
"I shall not take that as an insult," Thranduil replied coolly. This received a glare from his son, which of course made him laugh.
"I'm now going to be the main theme of everybody's jokes," Legolas sulked. "I shouldn't have woken up."
"I wouldn't have done," Ladrenîl told him.
"No, I know you wouldn't. You'd stay asleep for a whole month and not even consider waking up just to assure everyone that you were fine really and just fancied a rather long snooze."
Ladrenîl scoffed. "I can't think of a decent comeback right now, so come back to me later on that one."
This evoked more laughter from the gathered family. All ten members were present, having been fetched from their various jobs and duties around the palace. Wine had indeed been brought along, and Legolas was staring mournfully at the bottles.
"Not even just a little sip?"
"Not even just a little sip," Nauralad told him firmly.
He sighed. "Being in your care is no fun. I pity the poor souls in the future."
This earned him another slap on the arm.
----
"Did it hurt you much?"
Sîladiel shook her head. "Not really."
"Well it bloody hurt me."
She gave a small laugh. "You say the silliest things Legs."
"Its part of being me."
She shifted slightly in his embrace. "Are you comfortable enough?"
"Yes Sîl."
"Just checking."
"Hmm." He looked down at her. "You ok Sîl?"
"How do you mean?"
"You're all quiet and…well, different."
She gave a wan smile. "I've jus been worried about you, and I guess I'm tired. Don't worry Legs."
"Do my wounds still pain you?"
"No. Now I said don't worry."
He bent to kiss her cheek. "You're my sister, I am supposed to worry," he murmured in her ear.
"Those are the words you said to Lothriel."
He grinned. "Then start believing them. You know how much I love you Sîl. I hate seeing you down or upset."
The Princess reached down the side of the bed and pulled something up from the floor. Looking at it, Legolas found it hard to resist a gasp. It was the compass she had given him all those years ago when he had gone to find his older brother. Truth be told, he had forgotten all about it.
"Remember this?" she asked.
"How could I forget? Why have you still got it?"
She shrugged. "Sentimental reasons. It might come in useful again one day." She smiled at the look on his face. "Not in the way it was used before I mean."
"How then?"
"It can be used in any situation. Just follow the Northern arrow, and you'll reach your destination."
He sat up a little bit more, wincing at the pain in his abdomen. "But how does it work?"
She turned it over and over in her hands as she spoke. "I'm not entirely sure. Its magic I suppose."
"Where did you get it from?"
"So many questions Legolas! I got it from our grandmother."
"Grandma Hinonen?"
She nodded. "Just before she sailed over the Sea. She said she trusted it with me, and I would know how to use it and when. She said I was…she said I was like her in many respects."
"She had the gift of foresight. You have something like that…only in a different way."
"I feel your pain, both mental and physical. That's why I knew you needed this to find 'Ren. You wouldn't have found him without it, would you?"
Legolas shook his head. "It is highly unlikely. I often wondered how it worked, but after all the fuss when we got back home, I completely forgot. You say its some sort of magic?"
"I don't know whether Grandma Hinonen made it herself, or bought it or what. But she told me she had had it since she was a little girl, younger than Loth is now. Never, ever did she mention where it actually came from in the first place."
He paused for a minute, trying to work things out in his head. How could his grandmother have gotten hold of this compass? He didn't think she would have made it. It was too well-crafted, the design too delicate and awkward to create. He turned it over in his hands, looking for any clues as to its origins. There were some inscriptions on the back, and if he squinted, he could just make them out.
"A' menealle nauva calen ar' malta."
"What does it say?" Sîladiel asked, peering closer.
"May your ways be green and golden. It's from Rivendell."
"Are there any other words?"
Legolas looked closer. "Follow the Northern Arrow to where it may lead, For there you will find what you may seek." He glanced up. "It's all in Quenya."
"That's why I could only understand a little of the words. And Grandma Hinonen had told me how to use it."
"We'll have to keep this safe Sîl." He handed it back to her. "It must not fall into the wrong hands."
"So the mystery of the compass remains. All we know is that it is probably from Rivendell and has nice words on the back. Did Grandma Hinonen travel to Rivendell then?"
"She must have done. It cannot be very old, for Rivendell is not as old as Mirkwood. We should ask adar. Or even better, naneth."
She nodded. "I'll leave you to get some rest for now."
"I've been resting all day…"
"Sleep well big brother." She gave him a kiss on the cheek, scrambled down off the bed and left without another sound.
Legolas sighed and leant back against the pillows. What was with this compass? Sîladiel would take good care of it, he knew that much, but what was it all about? Why had Hinonen given it to her in the first place? There were rumours going around that she had had the Gift of Foresight. Had she seen what was to happen to her eldest grandchild? Or did she just know that Sîladiel was like her in many respects, and so entrusted her with this gift? It was all so complicated. It almost made his head hurt.
Looking up at the ceiling, he silently cursed his injuries. He could hear childish laughter coming from outside. He so wanted to be out there, either walking with his siblings, or enjoying a nice few rounds of archery against his friends. But her he was, stuck inside with only the stone walls for company, able only to listen to the outside world.
"Stop feeling so sorry for yourself," he chided. "This isn't a time to mellow." He paused.
"Oh great, now I'm talking to myself."
HE'S AWAKE!
Come on, you seriously think I would kill Leggy? Again? (For those of you who do not understand what I am blabbering on about, see the story entitled Alone)
Ciao for now!
Faerlain